Janet Napolitano: UC president's office to cut its spending

SAN FRANCISCO -- University of California President Janet Napolitano said Wednesday that her office will "lead by example" -- by cutting back on its spending.

The UC Office of the President's budget for next year will remain flat but because of higher pension costs and other mandatory spending that will require cuts -- in some areas, by up to 6.5 percent.

Napolitano, who has led the system for less than four months, has said she plans to show the governor and state lawmakers that money invested in the system will be well spent.

She said she had put an immediate cap on her office staffing and that travel expenses would be reduced.

"Any replacement positions will be subject to prior approval by me or my designees, and departments will be required to develop staffing plans that address future needs and attrition," she said, speaking at the UC Regents meeting in San Francisco.

"Any use of outside consultants or independent contractors will also need prior approval. And finally, there will be a 10 percent reduction in overall travel by UCOP."

The governor has proposed a 5 percent increase in the base budgets for UC and California State University, but both systems have asked for additional money -- in part, to allow them to educate more students.